The coach House is a detached 18th-century Grade II listed cottage, set in 3 acres of grounds, has been completely refurbished and equipped to an excellent standard. The interior still retains the original wooden beams and panelling. From the formal garden with a patio, there is access to the old cider orchard, and our guests have use of our all-weather tennis court and heated outdoor pool.

Downstairs

There is a spacious open-plan dining room with a dining table that seats six comfortably. There is a separate kitchen and a high chair is also supplied.


The Coach house is fitted with smoke alarms, fire extinguisher and fire blanket, and all electrical appliances and plugs are professionally checked between bookings.
 
The fully-fitted kitchen of the Coach house has a fridge-freezer, electric cooker with 4 rings, microwave and automatic washing machine, as well as a comprehensive range of kitchen equipment. 

The large drawing-room has retained many original features, including wood panelling, natural stone walls and an open fireplace in which guests may burn logs.
The whole of the Coach house is heated by night storage radiators, the running costs of which are included in the rent.

There is a 21" colour TV, DVD player, CD/radio and telephone, and the bookcase is stacked with books, board games and guides to local places of interest. A good selection of DVDs can be borrowed free of charge from the owner's extensive DVD library.
Double french windows lead out onto a stone-paved and walled patio that catches the sun.

Upstairs

There are two large double bedrooms, one furnished with queen-sized 5' double bed, wardrobe and dressing table; the other double bedroom has twin beds, a pair of bunks, wardrobe and dressing table, with a large cot available on request with no extra charge.
The bunks provide flexibility and may be split between the rooms, or moved into the double room, if required. All bedlinen is included in the rent.

The modern bathroom is fitted with three-piece suite and tiled splashbacks with all the upstairs rooms retaining the attractive exposed wooden beams and pitched ceilings.

Location

The Coch house is situated close to the Mendip hills and within a few miles of Glastonbury, Wells and Cheddar. The Somerset Levels, an important nature conservation area, are only a mile away, and, for those wishing to visit the coast, Weston-Super-Mare is 16 miles with the sandy beach at Burnham-on-Sea only 10 miles. The local  shops and pub are only 100 yards away in the charming village of Wedmore. There is full night storage central heating and an open fire can be lit in the lounge.

Garden and Grounds

The Coach House has its own private garden, with clothes drier, portable barbecue and table/chairs with parasol. The garden is set to rough lawn with flower beds, shrub hedge and young trees, and leads directly onto our two acres of paddock and cider orchard, which guests are welcome to share with a handful of tame grazing sheep.
 There is an all-weather tennis court which guests are free to use.
Our guests also have use of the heated outdoor swimming pool on weekday mornings (see conditions).

Immediately adjacent to the Coach House are two parking spaces for the exclusive use of guests.
 

The Village of Wedmore

Wedmore village is a conservation area, with the village centre being a rare surviving example of a 'Saxon square' - an ancient piece of open land completely enclosed on all four sides by houses facing outwards onto lanes. The buildings within village and conservation area are almost all Georgian or earlier, and the village is known for its pleasing architectural integrity. At the heart of the village is the beautiful medieval church , set in its surrounding graveyard.


Wedmore attracts a good number of visitors each year, yet remains essentially a busy village of working farms, tucked between the Somerset Levels and the Mendip Hills. The surrounding farmland is mostly all traditional livestock pasture. It does, however, boast its own Wired Wedmore website.

Rates

High Season
£300.00 - £470.00 per week

Low Season
£190.00 - £290.00 per week

Closed at Christmas, Closed at New Year

Historical Notes

Built in 1767 at the same time as the South wing of the main house, the Coach House is Listed Grade II, meaning that it is recognised as being "of historical and architectural importance" by the Department of the Environment.
The present drawing room housed the coaches (and coachmen - hence the fireplace) and the dining room/kitchen was for the horses. The wooden stable partitions have been preserved in their original positions.

The Coach House was restored and converted into a dwelling in 1991/2. The crown glass in the panel next to the front door is the original 18th century glass from the two small windows on either side of the door.

The inscription "Mary Hardwick 1839" over the french windows refers to the then owner of Holdenhurst (née Norman, she inherited the house from her father and married a Rev Hardwick from Bristol) who added various early-Victorian architectural features to the main house, including the stained-glass window visible from the drive.

Activities

Birdwatching

the unspoilt Somerset Levels are on our doorstep, offering one of the largest and best-known areas for birdwatching in the country. Wildfowl and migrating birds use the peat moors for breeding, and feeding from the 'rhynes' (drainage ditches) which are a rich source of freshwater food.

If you're not a twitcher, but just enjoy the peaceful sight of barn owls flying low over the ditches at dusk, then the Levels provide a vast landscape in which to observe all sorts of wildlife on foot, by bicycle, or even by car.

Hiking

for those who prefer more rugged landscapes and more demanding walking, the Mendip Hills are a few miles away in the other direction. A number of varied and popular walks begin at the bottom of the Cheddar Gorge.

Limestone Caves

the Mendips have two of the country's best-known and most spectacular show-caves in England, Cheddar Caves and Wookey Hole. If you're interested in caving, you should contact them in advance on their websites or by letter.

Nature Reserves

English Nature has designated six National Natural Reserves in Somerset, four of which are on the Levels or in the Mendips. The RSPB also has a large reserve at West Sedgemoor, on the edge of the Levels, and Somerset Wildlife Trust has no fewer than 68 reserves in all, many concentrated around this area.

Wells Cathedral and Bishop's Palace

not to be missed, this is one of the glories of English medieval church architecture. The famous clock in the north transept, featuring a tournament between two horsemen every quarter of an hour, is the oldest working clock in the country.

Glastonbury

the ancient Avalon of Arthurian legend, the place is said to lie on a convergence of ley lines, and it certainly has plenty of atmosphere! But forget the rock festival and the hippies, the spectacular ruined Abbey was England's richest and most powerful before the Reformation, and its sacred Thorn of Joseph of Arimathea is still a destination for pilgrims. Climb to the top of the famous Tor on a clear day and see across the Bristol Channel to Swansea.

Berrow Beach and Brean Down

a wild five-mile stretch of clean sand, backed by dunes, and ending in a rugged point jutting out into the Bristol Channel. Tropical Bird Garden at one end.

The City of Bath

as well as the famous Roman Baths and Pump Room, there is a Costume Museum, a Carriage Museum and the Theatre Royal. The Georgian city also offers some of the best restaurants in the area and, if you love gorgeous shops....!

Other Activities And Sports

Tennis

guests have free use of our own hard court

Golf

The Isle of Wedmore golf course is a short walk up the road. There is a driving range in Cheddar

Swimming

there are indoor swimming baths at Cheddar, Wells, and Street.

Fishing

Blagdon Lake and Chew Lake, as well as on the Levels

Riding

Cheddar Riding Stables are a few minutes drive away

10-Pin Bowling

Weston-super-Mare and Bristol

Cycling

we offer guests the use of our secure shed in which to store bikes. Bikes can be hired in Wells

Cinemas

Wells and Weston, and several large multiplexes in Bristol.

Pubs

three in Wedmore, all serving food, local beer and farmhouse cider.

Shops

Wedmore has sufficient shops within walking distance to provide for all visitors' needs, so if you visit one of our local supermarkets, it's because you wanted to!